Basketball equipment support with carrying case

ABSTRACT

A collapsible basketball goal comprising a backboard made up of two pivoted sections held in their assembled position by means of stirrup members mounted to the respective sections with support straps extending therebetween. The backboard is mounted on a collapsable tubular upright support which in turn is mounted through an aperture to an anchor shoe in the base by shoe hinge couplings. Braces extend from the tubular support through further apertures in the base to further anchor shoes. The base comprises a first slidable member having the aforesaid apertures and a second slidable member over the first to keep the pieces from falling out of the base when stored therein.

United States Patent 1 91 Appl. No.: 85,027

Field of Search ..273/1.5; 248/44, 46, 47, 48, 248/346, 159, 158

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,323 5/1932 Ebeling ..248/158 2,159,760 5/1939 Fitzgerald ..248/46 3,216,681 11/1965 Tagliavia t .248/346 X 3,399,889 9/1968 Harry 1 ..273/1.5 R

3,116,096 12/1963 Kavanagh I ..248/48 X 1,950,593 3/1934 Bonnet ..248/159 X 3,603,588 9/1971 Ebstein ..273/1.5 R 2,616,650 11/1952 Thompson ..248/346 Lancellotti 51 Feb. 13, 1973 BASKETBALL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS WITH CARRYING CASE 1,341,549 1963 France ..273/l.5 R I '[76] Inventor: Joseph J. Lancellotti, l-G Graden T North Arlington, Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo 22 Filed: Oct. 29 70 Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Att0rney-Sommers & Sommers [57] ABSTRACT A collapsible basketball goal comprising a backboard made up of two pivoted sections held in their assembled position by means of stirrup members mounted to the respective sections with support straps extending therebetween. The backboard is mounted on a collapsable tubular upright support which in turn is mounted through an aperture to an anchor shoe in the base by shoe hinge couplings. Braces extend from the tubular support through further apertures in the base to further anchor shoes. The base comprises a first slidable member having the aforesaid apertures and a second slidable member over the first to keep the pieces from falling out of the base when stored therein.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FEB: 3197a 3 4 SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 4 U] I m INVENTOR JOSEPH J. LANCELLOTTI ATTORNEYS .PATENTEDFEBIBISYS 3,715,234

SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 5

- 4 lNVENTOR 63 JOSEPH J. LANCELLOTTI ATTORN EYS thereof;

BASKETBALL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT WITH CARRYING CASE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally to collapsible equipment devices, and more specifically relates to a portable collapsible equipment support device which provides a unitary construction for transporting the col- ,lapsed equipment to a location-inside a base element which functions as a strengthened support base for the equipment on assemblage thereof in cooperation with an assembled adjacent support structure.

Pursuant to the invention, the portable equipment support device may be utilized conveniently and effias among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel unitary device, for coordinated element interaction, which can be collapsed and assembled as equipment support for play of a game or for transport to a location as desired, and which when assembled provides a strong support for the equipment supported thereon.

Now in accordance with the present invention, the

, foregoing objects and others as will become apparent in the course of the ensuing specification are achieved through use of a portable equipment support device operable, as will be described below,.so= that locations heretofore remote or inaccessible for use of equipment can be served thereby andso that a unitary device can be utilized for transport and support thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is diagramatically illustrated, by way of example, in the appended drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of a portable equipment support device embodying the invention, shown in assembled equipment embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, shown in dissassembled encased equipment embodiment FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable base means, pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational view of the equipment support means, pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational rear view of collapsible backboard equipment which may be utilized in connection with the device of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational front view of collapsible backboard and basket equipment in assembled position; and

FIG. 7 is a similar view thereof in collapsed basket position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the preferred mode of practicing the invention, the portable equipment support device 11 (FIG. 1) for example, comprises collapsible equipment support means 12 and portable base means 13, for supporting equipment 14 such as a basketball basket and backboard in the embodiment shown.

m bular leg members 22 therein, and anchor shoe members 25 (which in the preferred embodiment may be fixed to portable base means 13) with shoe hinged couplings 26 hingedly connected thereto which receive the other ends of said tubular leg members 22 therein, and which receive the lower end of said upright support 21 therein.

The portable base means 13 (FIGS. 2 and 3) comprises, for example, a first slideable top member 30 (FIG. 2), a second slideable top member 31 (FIG. 3) with rear leg apertures 32 and front support aperture 33 therein, front wall 34, back wall 35, side walls 36 and 37, bottom member 38 and collapsible base leg means 39 comprising, for example, extending leg members 40. Auxiliary weight means 41 may be utilized with side wall aperture 42 provided therefor.

The equipment 14 may comprise, for example (FIGS. 1 and 5-7) a collapsible basketball backboard member (preferably made of lightweight durable material) and basket member 51, said backboard member 50 comprising top member 52, bottom member 53, hinge elements 54, stirrup members 55, and apertures 56 therein, and support struts 57 with support plates 58 for interconnection thereto, said basket member 51 comprising a basket 59, a retainer plate 60, retainer plate apertures 61 therein, fixing 1 base 13 (FIG. 3). The collapsible base leg means 37 'The tubular leg members 22 and upright support 21 may then be inserted in the connector coupling memger 23 and the members may then be inserted in connector hinged couplings 24, which are affixed to the bottom member 38 of portable base means 13, through rear leg apertures 32 and front support aperture 33 in the second slideable top member 31.

The equipment 14, which in the embodiment shown comprises a basketball basket and backboard, may be assembled for example by opening the hinged top member 52 and bottom member 53 on the hinge elements 54, and inserting the support plates 58 with the support struts 57 in the stirrup members 55, thereby supporting the backboard member 50 in open position. The basket member 51 is assembled in position by opening the basket 59 on the hinge 63, and aligning the retainer plate apertures 61 with the backboard apertures 56 and inserting fixing means 62 therein.

In another embodiment of the invention, where a water source is accessible at the desired site, water may be pumped through auxiliary weight means side aperture 42 to fill the base with water, which serves to weigh down the base for support. Alternatively, rocks, dirt, or other weight means may be inserted in the base at the desired site to provide further support.

The device of this invention provides a portable basketball (or other supported equipment) set in which the various components such as a foldable backboard, basket, etc., are all neatly packaged in a compact carrying case. The several components may be rapidly assembled into a full sized basketball rig, with the carrying case serving as a support base for the mast supporting the backstop and basket.

While the present invention has been particularly set forth in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be evident in view of the instant disclosure, that numerous variations upon the invention are now enabled to those skilled in the art, which variations in propriety are yet within the true scope of this teaching. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed, and limited only the by scope and spirit of the claims now appended hereto.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for supporting basketball equipment, which comprises:

a. a basketball goal, which comprises a backboard top portion'which includes a front surface and a ill back surface, and a bottom edge thereof, a backboard bottom portion which includes a front surface and a back surface and a top edge thereof, a hinge element, which is mounted to the bottom edge of the backboard top portion and to the top edge of the backboard bottom portion, an upper stirrup member which is mounted to the backboard top portion back surface, a lower stirrup member which is mounted to the backboard bottom portion back surface, and a support strap which includes end portions and support plates which are located on the end portions thereof and which are connectable with the stirrup members; and

. means for supporting the basketball goal, which comprise a base which includes a front wall portion, a back wall portion, side wall portions, a first slidable cover member, and a second slidable cover member which includes apertures therein, a first anchor shoe member and a second anchor shoe member which are connectable to the base member, shoe hinged couplings which are mounted to the anchor shoe members, a collapsible tubular upright support which is connectable to the first anchor shoe member, a connector coupling which is connectable to the collapsible tubular upright support, a hinged coupling which is mounted to the connector couplings, and a tubular leg member which 18 connec ble to the second anchor shoe member and the hinged coupling.

2. A supporting apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a basketball basket member, comprising a basket, a retainer plate, a basket hinge element hingedly connecting the basket and the retainer plate, and means for affixing the basket member to the backboard member. 

1. Apparatus for supporting basketball equipment, which comprises: a. a basketball goal, which comprises a backboard top portion which includes a front surface and a back surface, and a bottom edge thereof, a backboard bottom portion which includes a front surface and a back surface and a top edge thereof, a hinge element, which is mounted to the bottom edge of the backboard top portion and to the top edge of the backboard bottom portion, an upper stirrup member which is mounted to the backboard top portion back surface, a lower stirrup member which is mounted to the backboard bottom portion back surface, and a support strap which includes end portions and support plates which are located on the end portions thereof and which are connectable with the stirrup members; and b. means for supporting the basketball goal, which comprise a base which includes a front wall portion, a back wall portion, side wall portions, a first slidable cover member, and a second slidable cover member which includes apertures therein, a first anchor shoe member and a second anchor shoe member which are connectable to the base member, shoe hinged couplings which are mounted to the anchor shoe members, a collapsible tubular upright support which is connectable to the first anchor shoe member, a connector coupling which is connectable to the collapsible tubular upright support, a hinged coupling which is mounted to the connector couplings, and a tubular leg member which is connectable to the second anchor shoe member and the hinged coupling.
 2. A supporting apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a basketball basket member, comprising a basket, a retainer plate, a basket hinge element hingedly connecting the basket and the retainer plate, and means for affixing the basket member to the backboard member. 